Announcer shuffle at Louisiana Downs

Louisiana Downs will have a different announcer for the final two weeks of its meet as John McGary begins calling races at Zia Park in Hobbs, N.M., on Saturday. McGary said Mike Persichino will fill in through the close of the Louisiana Downs meet on Sept. 27.

McGary will call at Zia through the close of the meet in December, then be back at Louisiana Downs for both the Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred meets in 2018.

Zia opened last Saturday, and Robert Fox filled in for McGary so he could call the Super Derby at Louisiana Downs. McGary, a 51-year-old native of California, is a resident of Louisiana.